I think a strong safety is a bigger need than that. Bullitt is a great backup and an interesting 3rd safety option but not a great starter IMO. Sanders is a top 3 safety when fully healthy but you can't trust him to stay off the injury report. I agree going OL early and often would be great as long as the players are there. But if the safety talent in the 2nd was better than the OL talent I wouldn't mind taking the safety.

He's not a great starter, but he's passable, especially when playing next to Antoine Bethea. I guess I wouldn't mind spending a pick there if the talent was much greater than the talent available at OL, but considering that virtually any OL is an option that would upgrade the unit either next year or in the not too distant future, I don't know that the value could be that much greater at SS.

Regardless, I'd like to see the Colts come away from this draft with at least 3 OL who could compete for starting jobs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxV

Welcome back, Dam.

I agree with you regarding OL being top need. Clearly, significant upgrade is needed there.

But what do you think about this deep class of DLs this year? It looks like Colts might finally be in a position to find that talented UT that they've needed for so long.

Well IMO DE is out of the question with Freeney, Mathis, and Hughes. Drafting another DE would be reaching the point of diminishing returns. That leaves DT, where I thought Moala came on strong, Muir remained a steady force, and Mathews came on strong at the end of the year. Combine with Johnson and Foster, and I see a relatively young and capable DT unit for the first time since 2005, so I'm not so sure that an upgrade is needed, especially not nearly as much as a good blindside protector for Peyton Manning. Now, if there's some sort of ludicrous value in round 2, sure, take it, but I really can't see the Colts going anywhere but OT in the first round this year.

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Well IMO DE is out of the question with Freeney, Mathis, and Hughes. Drafting another DE would be reaching the point of diminishing returns. That leaves DT, where I thought Moala came on strong, Muir remained a steady force, and Mathews came on strong at the end of the year. Combine with Johnson and Foster, and I see a relatively young and capable DT unit for the first time since 2005, so I'm not so sure that an upgrade is needed, especially not nearly as much as a good blindside protector for Peyton Manning. Now, if there's some sort of ludicrous value in round 2, sure, take it, but I really can't see the Colts going anywhere but OT in the first round this year.

What if you have a situation where all the 1st round-caliber OLs are gone and there is an absolute BEASTLY DT (like Paea for example) still there?

- Muir was not as good this year as last year. He took a big step back IMO. Hist first step was slow and he looked out of shape. He was not blowing into the backfield like he did last year. I dont 'know if it was injury or what but I don't expect the Colts to re-sign him, especially when you look at how the Colts improved so much against the run when Mookie returned from his knee injury.

- IMO "passable" isn't good enough. Bethea is at his best when the rest of the DBs are at their best. He has to make up for too many screwups if the other DBs are scrubs. I want to maximize Bethea's talent which would mean having a better SS next to him. I agree if the talent is similar between OL and SS they should go OL. In that case, make a play for Dawan Landry in free agency. SS is important in our defense and Bullitt just isn't good enough. And when the SS position is weak Bethea has to try to cover up the mistakes and can't ball hawk.

- I agree that Solder and Smith are too developmental to be the desired 1st round picks. I would add Castonzo to that, I think he will need to add significant strength to start in the NFL and that will take time. As of now Carimi and Sherrod are the only two OTs that I'm interested in in the 1st. Marcus Cannon is another possibility but I want to see him at the combine.

There are some round 2 and 3 guys that I think have potential. Lee Ziemba and Marcus Gilbert for example.

There are also some guards that might be worth taking or even trading up in the 2nd for. Imagine getting both Carimi/Sherrod and Cannon in the 1st 2 rounds.

- I agree that Solder and Smith are too developmental to be the desired 1st round picks. I would add Castonzo to that, I think he will need to add significant strength to start in the NFL and that will take time. As of now Carimi and Sherrod are the only two OTs that I'm interested in in the 1st. Marcus Cannon is another possibility but I want to see him at the combine.

There are some round 2 and 3 guys that I think have potential. Lee Ziemba and Marcus Gilbert for example.

There are also some guards that might be worth taking or even trading up in the 2nd for. Imagine getting both Carimi/Sherrod and Cannon in the 1st 2 rounds.

Reading Scott's practice reports from Senior Bowl, it's just confirms what you and I agree on, Carimi and Sherrod are the top 2 OTs in the draft. Solder could be good, but needs work. Castonzo is ok, maybe he would be an upgrade over either CJ or Diem, but probably won't be a Pro-Bowler.

As far as guards, getting either Watkins or Moffitt would be a significant upgrade.

I still say that a good, pass-rushing DT would be a HUGE addition to our D.

But upgrading the O-Line should be the top priority.

Moala really came on last year, and Mathews was a key factor in the late season improvement in run defense. I think with Muir, Johnson, and Foster, those five make a competent if unspectacular DT rotation. At the very least, they're far more competent as a unit than Johnson and Diem are at the OT spots.

There at least 8 OTs in this draft that I'd rather see starting for the Colts than Johnson and Diem.

Yes the only two OTs I'm interested in for the 1st are Carimi and Sherrod. Castonzo is too much of a lightweight and needs to get stronger, Solder and Smith are projects that will take time (and possibly coaching skill) that we don't have.

Yes the only two OTs I'm interested in for the 1st are Carimi and Sherrod. Castonzo is too much of a lightweight and needs to get stronger, Solder and Smith are projects that will take time (and possibly coaching skill) that we don't have.

I agree, what we need is a OT who can run block. Castonzo seems way to much like what we have already ie an undersized OT who can pass block but can't get push in the run game to save his life. While Smith reminds me way too much of Tony Ugoh for some reason. As for Solder I'm praying that some team drafts him before us because I don't trust Polian to not draft him.
Out of Sherrod and Carimi I think either one would be an upgrade on what we have now, but i think we should take Carimi just because he seems to be the better run blocker of the two, which i think we need more.

I'm afraid of that. Seems like he's clearly the #1 OT in the draft and it's hard to imagine no one picking an OT until #22. I think it'd be worth trading up for but I doubt Polian will do it.

While I agree that Polian will not trade up, I still think that there is a good chance we can nab Carimi. A lot of the teams ahead of us have more pressing issues then o-line, and due to the fact that OT is one of the weakest positions in this draft a lot of teams might not feel the value is there for the higher picks. Besides at least 1 team will most likely fall in love with Solder and draft him way before they should and possibly do the same with Smith. Besides if we don't get Carimi at least there is a good chance that Sharrod will still be there, which isn't a bad consolation prize. Even getting Costanzo would be an improvement, then what we have now.

While I agree that Polian will not trade up, I still think that there is a good chance we can nab Carimi. A lot of the teams ahead of us have more pressing issues then o-line, and due to the fact that OT is one of the weakest positions in this draft a lot of teams might not feel the value is there for the higher picks. Besides at least 1 team will most likely fall in love with Solder and draft him way before they should and possibly do the same with Smith. Besides if we don't get Carimi at least there is a good chance that Sharrod will still be there, which isn't a bad consolation prize. Even getting Costanzo would be an improvement, then what we have now.

I hope you are right. I am fine with getting Sherrod in the 1st if Carimi isn't there. I don't want Castonzo though, he is not strong enough for the NFL.

What would be really exciting would be to see Polian move up to get Carimi, then move up again in the late 1st/early 2nd to nab another good OL prospect like Marcus Cannon or Mike Pouncey.

Every year teams fall in love with the athletic guys, the former Tight End prospects and the guys with huge upside. I would not be shocked if Castonzo, Smith and Solder were all gone before Camiri and Sherrod.

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Originally Posted by George Carlin

In Football the object is for the Field General to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the Defence by hitting his Receivers with deadly accuracy, in spite of the Blitz, even if he has to use the Shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack which punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy’s Defensive Line.

While I'm pretty confident that either Carimi or Sherrod will still be there when we pick, I'm afraid Polian will screw it up and take someone like Solder or Smith, or do something really stupid and not draft a linemen until the 3rd or 4th or something like that.

While I'm pretty confident that either Carimi or Sherrod will still be there when we pick, I'm afraid Polian will screw it up and take someone like Solder or Smith, or do something really stupid and not draft a linemen until the 3rd or 4th or something like that.

Your fears are founded. I did predict drafting Hughes but usually I don't guess his picks right. I don't want him to pick a lineman just for the sake of picking one but my concern would be his inability to assess proper 1st round talent, especially on the OL.

Drake Nevis and Christian Ballard were taken before my pick in the 2nd and I had tried to trade for a few veteran DTs but to no avail.

If the draft turns out like that I will break something. Solder is not at all what the Colts need at tackle, and we don't need a LB enough to pick one in the 2nd. Especially considering S and DT are much bigger needs.